Second game, second win – and another 3-0: Germany are on course to qualify for the 2018 World Cup in Russia. Joachim Löw spoke to DFB.de about the key to success, Thomas Müller’s insatiable hunger for goals and the next qualifier against Northern Ireland on Tuesday (20:45 CEST) in Hanover.
Question: Joachim Löw, how pleased are you with your side’s 3-0 victory in the World Cup qualifier against Czech Republic?
Joachim Löw: It was definitely a convincing performance. We had the game under control at all times, were strong in attack and carved out numerous openings. We therefore deserved to win.
Question: Thomas Müller certainly helped to pick up the three points with another brace. How do you explain his current goal scoring form after he failed to hit the target at EURO 2016?
Löw: I don’t know if I need to come up with an explanation. It’s tricky. Every attacking player goes through phases when they faile to get on the scoresheet. That was the case with him at the European Championship. However, Thomas Müller is always capable of scoring when he has chances and he’s currently in a rich vein of form for us. He was our stand-out player.
Question: Cross field passes by central defenders Jerome Boateng and Mats Hummels really opened up the game. Was that the key to success?
Löw: Yes, we worked all week on how Czech Republic defend and set up in defence. We realised that they are easily cut open by cross field balls and a shift in the game because their defence generally stays very tight and central. The diagonal balls helped us to get in behind their defence and cause them problems. Our two centre backs were excellent in this respect and faultless in defence.
Question: Can you describe the game in more detail?
Second game, second win – and another 3-0: Germany are on course to qualify for the 2018 World Cup in Russia. Joachim Löw spoke to DFB.de about the key to success, Thomas Müller’s insatiable hunger for goals and the next qualifier against Northern Ireland on Tuesday (20:45 CEST) in Hanover.
Question: Joachim Löw, how pleased are you with your side’s 3-0 victory in the World Cup qualifier against Czech Republic?
Joachim Löw: It was definitely a convincing performance. We had the game under control at all times, were strong in attack and carved out numerous openings. We therefore deserved to win.
Question: Thomas Müller certainly helped to pick up the three points with another brace. How do you explain his current goal scoring form after he failed to hit the target at EURO 2016?
Löw: I don’t know if I need to come up with an explanation. It’s tricky. Every attacking player goes through phases when they faile to get on the scoresheet. That was the case with him at the European Championship. However, Thomas Müller is always capable of scoring when he has chances and he’s currently in a rich vein of form for us. He was our stand-out player.
Question: Cross field passes by central defenders Jerome Boateng and Mats Hummels really opened up the game. Was that the key to success?
Löw: Yes, we worked all week on how Czech Republic defend and set up in defence. We realised that they are easily cut open by cross field balls and a shift in the game because their defence generally stays very tight and central. The diagonal balls helped us to get in behind their defence and cause them problems. Our two centre backs were excellent in this respect and faultless in defence.
Question: Can you describe the game in more detail?
Löw: Our full backs pushed up high and were almost on the halfway line, which was a conscious decision. The aim is always to take as many opposition players out of the game with just one pass and we were very successful at doing just that. Whether Jerome Boateng, Mats Hummels or Toni Kroos, the three played out from the back superbly. It was good that with those three and Sami Khedira we only had four players left deeper and the others could all push forward in order to force the opposition back and make runs to open up and exploit their defence.
Question: Jerome Boateng received treatment during the game, while Jonas Hector had to be replaced. What is the current situation with both players?
Löw: Jerome took a knock while Jonas has a slight muscle injury. I assume that it’s not too serious. Jonas' substitution was simply a precautionary measure.
Question: You face an even more defensive side on Tuesday. Will it be trickier against Northern Ireland?
Löw: I don’t know if it will be a more difficult game. We need exactly the same focus on goal, the same movement and the same accurate passing on Tuesday. Northern Ireland will probably sit back even more than Czech Republic. When we want to be successful, we have to play exactly as we know we can.
Question: What was particularly striking during the game was the number of players you had in the opposition penalty area. How pleasing was that?
Löw: I’m certainly satisfied with that. It was previously noted that in some games we didn’t have as many players as possible in the opposition box. Especially when it comes to playing against teams with a similar style to Czech Republic, it is necessary and essential that midfielders and wingers make their way into the centre. That’s where you can pose and danger and where goals are scored.
